V 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


THE  SOLILOQUY 

OF  SATAN 


AND  OTHER  POEMS 


BY 

ELLIOTT  ELAINE  HENDERSON 

Author  of  the  First  and  Second  Editions  of 
"  PLANTATION  ECHOES  " 


SPRINGFIELD,  OHIO. 

PUBLISHED    BY    THE    AUTHOR 

1907 


COPYRIGHT,  1907, 

BT 
ELLIOTT  ELAINE  HENDERSON, 

SPRINGFIELD,  OHIO. 


DEDICATION 

'T'HIS  book  is  reverently  dedicated  to  my 
sainted  mother  and  father,  Sarah  A.  and 
Benjamin  Franklin  Henderson,  a  token  of  my 
deepest  love,  reverence  and  respect,  in  con/ 
sideration  of  their  ceaseless  efforts  in  my 
behalf,  their  innumerable  sacrifices,  and  their 
incomparable  loving  kindness,  In  the  language 
of  another,  "I  name  them  but  to  praise/' 


Soliloquy  of  Satan. 


Sovereign!  Am  I!  By  God's  decree 
Of  Hell  for  all  eternity, 
Where  joy  and  peace  are  never  known, 
Nor  light  of  day  is  ever  thrown. 

My  kingdom,  burneth  with  the  fire, 
Will  flame  and  burn  when  time  is  done, 
When  chaos  and  confusion  reign- 
Extinguished  are  the  stars  and  sun. 

There  demons  rage  in  strife  and  woe, 
Enthralled  like  swine  in  my  domain, 
Where  invocations,  pleas  and  prayers 
To  God  for  succor  rise  in  vain! 

See  how  they  grope  within  the  throes! 
And  gnash  their  teeth  like  dogs  that  bite  ! 
Then  weep  like  orphans  at  the  bier 
When  dawns  on  them  there  is  no  flight! 


Weep,  ye  cursed,  weep  and  groan! 
Thy  sins  ?    Seas  of  tears  can  not  atone ! 
Plead  till  the  years  are  sepulchered! 
In  Hell  ay,  mercy  hath  no  throne ! 

Heartless  am  I!  My  spirit  knows 
No  justice,  mercy,  feeling,  none! 
Hatred  and  envy  and  dire  revenge 
Have  come  to  me— my  spirit  won! 

I  laugh  at  misery,  woe  and  pain 
Of  those,  my  captives,  held  in  chain ! 
Ay!  when  the  sun  and  studding  stars 
Have  left  their  sockets  waned  and  paled! 
Still !  captives  will  they  e  'er  remain 
In  Lucifer's  charnal  travail. 

Lucifer  is  called  the  roaring  lion! 
Seeking  whom  he  may  devour! 
Presence  o 'erpowering !  Bold!  as  the  blast! 
Who's  never  known  to  shrink  or  cower. 


Accursed  by  Him  dropped  from  the  throne, 
Where  naught  but  love  and  peace  art  known, 
Because  rebellion  seized  my  heart 
And  made  me  thrust  at  Him  my  dart! 

Thou  hast  rebelled,  proud  Lucifer ! 
Depart!  with  those  thy  favorite  hosts! 
From  thy  imperial  sacred  place, 
Go  down  in  shame,  ruin  and  disgrace! 

Ay,  such  was  true !  And  mine  the  fate ! 
Thrust!  Through  the  portals,  through  the  gate, 
Down!  the  precipitous  road  to  Hell, 
Forever  there  to  live  and  dwell ! 

Hell  leaped  for  joy;  her  hosts  proclaimed: 
"Proud  Lucifer  droppeth  to  his  shame!" 
Reverberations;  the  wails,  the  shrieks, 
The  tempest  struggling  up  the  steeps J 
Seethed!    surged!    and    burned!    ten    thousand 

folds, 
The  depthless  sea  of  sinful  souls ! 


Mine  the  prerogative  to  remain? 

Nay !  naught  but  submission  to  that  decree 

Of  Him  who  shapes  all  destiny! 

The  author  of  immortality. 

Ah,  Lucifer,  why  didst  thou  give 
The  demon  thralldom  of  thy  soul 
To  bring  down  judgment  on  thyself, 
To  bar  thee  from  the  streets  of  gold  ? 

Ah!  Lucifer!  Behold!  behold! 

That  vast,  resplendent  white-robed  throng! 

There  once  thou  stood 'st  immaculate 

In  praise  and  eulogy  and  song. 

Bedazzling     in      God's     holiness,     outrivaling 

meteoric  light, 

Whose  fulgence  pierced  the  dark'ning  gloom, 
Dispersing  ebon  shades  of  night ! 


Fool !  Hast  thou  been,  proud  Lucifer ! 
To  God  thou  yet  shall  bend  in  tears, 
Brought  to  the  gravity  of  thy  fate 
Clothed  in  the  mantle  of  dire  fears! 

Who  is  this  King  of  supreme  reign 

Whose  throttling  might  holds  Hell  enchained  ? 

'Tis  He !  my  everlasting  foe ! 

Who  sinks  me  to  these  depths  below. 

Judge  of  the  court  tribunal  high! 
Oh  for  my  place  in  yonder  sky ! 
Could  my  entreaty  move  Thy  will 
For  reinstatement  'round  Thy  throne, 
Gladly  would  I  flee  to  Thee, 
Where  dwell  the  glories  of  thine  own. 

Oh  drops  of  mercy— dews  of  love 
In  benediction  from  above, 
Fall  on  Lucifer  this  hour, 
From  Heaven's  holy  sacred  tower. 


The  soul  of  Lucifer  now  weeps 
With  surcharged  heart  bleeding  and  torn, 
In  sackcloth  and  ashes  behold!  behold! 
The  vain  proud  Lucifer  doth  mourn ! 

Behold  me  in  this  sin-cursed  plight! 
Eternal  King,  disperse  this  night ! 
Cast  aside  the  threat 'ning  clouds 
And  lead  me  to  Thy  glorious  heights! 

Hark!  the  music  of  the  spheres! 
In  spotless  white  at  God 's  right  hand, 
Float  strains  of  that  grand  tribal  band! 
The  hoasts  are  marching!   Hear  their  song! 
Great  King  of  Glory !   Oh,  how  long  ? 

How  long  must  Lucifer  remain 
Divorced  from  the  glories  of  Thine  own? 
Forgiveness  can  there  be  for  me 
Again  to  sit  around  Thy  throne? 


10 


Doth  Lucifer,  like  the  widow,  mourn? 
Like  swaddling  babies  drop  a  tear? 
Arouse ! !  ye  coward ! !   Doff ! !  thy  fears ! ! 
Inspire ! !  thy  soul  again  to  cheers ! ! 

Away!!  with  retrospection  now!! 
Corne!   welcome   sweet   f orgetf ulness ! 
Blot ! !  from  the  memory  of  Lucifer, 
Those  season's  of  his  blissf ulness ! 

For  every  tear  that  I  have  shed, 
For  every  plea  struck  from  my  tongue, 
Summon!  thy  most  destructive  powers, 
Let  souls  from  earth  this  hour  be  flung ! 

Ha!  again  did  Lucifer  turn  fool, 
Forget  himself  and  play  the  ass ! 
Furies  of  Hell  burst  forth  anew! 
Obey!  the  mandates  of  my  blast! 


11 


I,  the  personification  of  all ! ! 
That's  naught  but  perverse  to  the  good, 
To  weaken  at  unguarded  time- 
Allow  myself  to  whine  and  brood ! ! 

To  think  that  I  could  condescend 
To  drop  to  humiliation's  shrine, 
While  founts  of  grief  and  sorrows  flowed 
When  memory  didst  my  soul  remind. 

To  rend  my  soul  to  depths  extreme, 

To  fall  repentant  at  His  stream, 

This  vain !  proud  sovereign  power !  of  Hell ! ! 

Susceptible !  to  such  a  spell ! ! 

Away !  with  all  that  tends  to  good ! 
Misery  and  torture  to  man  for  food! 
Scoff ! !  at  the  pleading  ones  in  tears 
And  mock!  the  faltering  one  that  fears! 


12 


Let  devastation  fill  the  land! 
Death !  Death !  ride  on !  Spare !  not  a  soul ! 
Strike  down !  the  unsuspecting  one, 
For  my  captivity,  my  fold ! 

Brilliance  of  conquest  is  for  me! 
Cursed!  be  the  throngs  of  liberty! 
Their  freedom  stirs  my  soul  to  wrath, 
An  effervescent  aftermath. 

Lucifer,  rule  on  in  infamy! 
Prowl !  the  recesses  of  earth ! 
Barter!  for  the  living  souls, 
For  those  as  yet  not  given  birth! 

Oh,  ye  of  Adam's  progeny! 
Ye  knoweth  not!  this  hellish  sage, 
Who  thwarts  the  subtlest  of  man 
To  give  him  torture  for  his  wage! 


13 


Oh  could  I  seize  earth  in  my  grasp 
And  crush  her  as  the  potter's  clay, 
While  o'er  the  battlements  like  swine 
Behold  men  fall  in  fear,  dismay ! 

Ay,  when  the  judgment  day  shall  dawn 
The  light  from  every  sphere  has  gone, 
The  firmament  clouds,  sinks,  disappears, 
To  be  forgotten  as  the  years, 

When  throttling  forces  seize  the  earth, 
And  fires  consuming  have  their  birth, 
Catastrophe  thrown  to  relief, 
While  I  with  cohorts  gloat  beneath, 

Then!  will  my  reveille  break  the  spell, 
And  cohorts  martialing  forth  from  Hell, 
At  my  dictation !  mandates !  all ! ! 
Like  vultures  seize!  bind  and  enthrall! 


14 


Oh  when  ye  plead  and  cower  in  tears, 
Receive  ye  then  my  mocks  and  jeers ! 
I'll  sink  thee  to  the  depths  unknown, 
Reward  for  sinful  deeds,  thou'rt  sown! 

Then,  will  my  soul  well  to  the  heights, 
Where  bliss  is  law!  where  bliss  is  might! 
Quickened  by  misery,  woe  and  pain 
Of  groveling  souls  in  my  domain! 

Away!  Away!  No  reasoning  power 
Could  change  this  demon  for  one  hour! 
Well  might 'st  thou  try  to  move  God's  throne, 
As  try  to  touch  this  heart  of  stone ! 

Such !  is  the  law  of  Lucifer ! 
Written  in  blood  of  suffering  souls; 
Inexorable,  unmoved  am  I 
As  He  who  thrust  me  from  the  sky ! 


15 


1Tn  miemoriam. 

To  THE  LATE  PAUL  L.  DUNBAR. 

God  from  His  glorious  throne  looked  down, 
And  plucked  him  as  the  blushing  flower; 

Solemn  as  death,  grieveous  and  awed, 
Was  made  a  grateful  race  that  hour. 

This  is  a  debt  we  all  must  pay— 

The  rich,  the  high,  the  low— 
The  exit  from  this  world  to  that 

Of  happiness  or  woe. 

'Tis  for  the  soul  of  spotless  white, 
Cleansed  pure  as  Heaven's  holy  spheres, 

To  walk  the  streets  beyond  the  void 
Bereft  of  sighs,  bereft  of  tears. 

Brilliance  of  mind  beyond  discount, 
The  birthright  of  this  noble  son, 

Forged  verse  which  moved  the  hearts  of  men, 
And  brought  him  laurels  truly  won. 

16 


Deeds  of  potency  and  power 

Wrought  he  'mid  clouds  of  dire  dispair, 
Upon  successes  sun  kissed  heights 

He  found  at  last  a  welcome  there. 

Verse  flowed  as  magic  from  his  pen, 
Encouching  sweet  and  beauteous  thought, 

Of  negro  life  before  the  days 

When  struggling  men  for  freedom  fought. 

As  long  as  history  endures 
He  there  shall  find  abiding  place; 

Plaudits  and  honor  e'er  for  him— 
The  greatest  poet  of  his  race. 

Not  in  monumental  stone, 

Not  in  history  alone, 
But  in  our  loving,  grateful  hearts, 

He  there  shall  live— shall  find  a  throne. 

Bury  him  in  a  hallowed  spot, 

Where  devastation  cometh  not, 
In  a  picturesque  vale  where  nature  in  sublimity 

Stands  out  in  wondrous  bold  relief, 
The  enshinement  of  him 

Whose  life  was  brief. 
17 


meditation* 

To  CAPT.  WALTER  S  .THOMAS. 

We  gaze  upon  the  shining  orbs 
That  guild  the  depthless  welkin  dome, 

Survey  that  grand  etheral  space  where  countless 
hosts  angelic  roam, 

Where  symphonies,  rythmical  songs, 
The  chants,  the  lays,  beyond  compare, 
And  ask  in  wonder  what  is  man's  fate? 
Has  he  a  blissful  future  state? 

Creations  of  the  Divine  hand 
Tell  us  above  all  worlds  doth  tow'r 
The  King  of  Kings  with  sovereign  pow'r, 
Where  e'er  He  wills  dispersing  night, 
Guiding  the  worlds  in  their  swift  flight. 


18 


Ay,  man  reads  in  the  rocks,  the  hills,  each  blade 
of  grass, 

The  flower,   the  murmuring  stream,  the  truth 
personified— 

"Futurity"   for  they   the  just,   the   pure,   the 
glorified. 

Thus  man  lives  on  and  on, 
Prophetic  of  the  robe,  the  crown, 
Sublimities  which  have  no  bound, 
The  Jasper  walls,  the  Heavenly  throne, 
The  universe's  foundation  stone. 


19 


1Hc  Us  1Rot 

TO  THE   I/ATB  RBV.  JAMKS   PoiNDEXTBR. 

Weep  not !   He  is  not  dead— 
'Though  sepulchered,  the  tenement  of  clay, 
The  severance  of  the  silver  chord 
Means  but  new  birth  to  live  alway. 

Decrepit,  so  made  by  fleeting  years, 
Fatigued,  with  faltering  step 
He  climbed  life's  weary  way, 
Beyond  the  enshrouding  mists 
His  soul  cleaves  the  vaulted  skies, 
Merged  in  the  realm  of  supernal  day. 

The  great  white  throne  embellished  with 
The  choiring  throngs  resounding 
With  the  rhythm  of  spheres, 
Welcomed  this  soul  that  took  it's  flight 
From  earth  'mid  grief  and  falling  tears. 


Indelibly  stamped  upon  life's  way 
He  left  his  impress  for  his  race  to  live 
When  stars  grown  ancient  dismissed  from  vault- 
ed skies 
With  fulgent  suns  sink  no  more  to  rise. 

Gilded  upon  the  heavenly  scroll, 
Fulgent  as  the  spheres  that  roll 
Onward  and  onward  through  space, 
His  sacred  name  there  finds  its  place. 

The  shedding  of  Christ's  blood  on  Calvary 

Was  for  such  as  he,  who  lived  the  life 

The    great    tribunal    approbates,    that    swings 

awide 
The  golden  gates. 


21 


Soft  jfalls  the  -Wight 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

And  chases  'way 
The  slowly  dying 

Summer  day; 
The  sun  from  his 

Ethereal  height 
Is  curtained 

By  the  shades  of  night. 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  birds  that  tune 
Their  songs  to  nature 

In  commune, 
Now  hush  their  lays, 

Seek  silent  rest 
Within  their  downy, 

Leafy  nests. 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  starry  hosts 
Creep    'cross  the  dome 

Like  silent  ghosts; 
And  on  and 

Like  sheep  they  stray- 
Within  their  wake 

Cast  silvery  rays. 

22 


Soft  falls  the  night— 

A  peaceful  sleep 
O'er  earthly  mortals 

Doth  now  creep; 
They  rest  now  from 

Their  day's  pursuit, 
The  world  is  still! 

The  world  is  mute! 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  verdure  green 
Now  glistens  with 

A  dewy  sheen; 
The  flowers  droop, 

Their  petals  close, 
They  dream  away 

In  sweet  repose. 

Soft  fades  the  night— 

Lo !  breaks  the  dawn ! 
And  Nature  'wakens 

With  the  morn; 
Exultingly  sends  up 

Her  lays, 
Her  symphonies 

To  God  in  praise. 

23 


Jfrccdom  jfor  ZUU  jfor  1Rcne 
1Ro  Cbrall! 

Columbia!  Before  thy  shrine  we  bow, 

List  to  our  humble  pleading  now ! 

For  deliverance  mortals  weep,  commingle  mute. 

Our  souls  are  weighted  down  with  woe, 
Which  aggregate  a  mighty  cross, 
Lend  us  thine  ear  in  reverence, 
Let  not  an  humble  plea  be  lost. 

Sad  is  our  plight,  dismayed  we  grope, 
The  lowering  clouds  in  secret  might 
Conspire  to  hide  becloud  Hope's  sun 
That  shines  upon  yon  thrilling  heights! 

Bliss  is  the  goal  for  which  men  strive 
That  state,  bereft  of  sighs  and  woes, 
Where  things  congenial  e'er  survive, 
Where  all  are  friends,  where  none  are  foes ! 

24 


Thou'rt  crowned  with  glory  unexcelled; 
The  world  has  acquiesced  in  awe, 
That  thou  art  mighty  in  thy  power, 
Most  potent  is  thy  word  and  law ! 


Thine  is  the  power,  to  burst  the  thrall, 
And  free  thy  sons  from  black 'ning  pall, 
That  they  may  stand  like  men  of  old, 
Proud  they  are  of  thy  mighty  fold! 

God  did'st  Himself  ally  with  thee, 
To  set  His  sons  and  daughters  free! 
He  approbates  no  color  line ! 
Be  just  to  all  mortality! 

Let  justice  ring  from  every  height! 
Teach  men  to  lend  an  ear  to  right! 
Black's  no  disgrace— God  made  us  all!! 
Freedom  for  all !  For  none  no  thrall ! 


25 


Patriot  ardor  thrills  the  breast 
Of  every  noble  son  of  Ham! 
Let  not  thy  banner  mean  to  him 
A  reverie,  a  mock,  a  sham ! 

They've  trod  the  field  in  battle's  might— 
And  when  thy  clarion  sounded,  ' l  Fight ! ' ' 
Forward!  was  their  battle  cry, 
For  they  believed  thy  cause  was  right! 

High  on  the  heights  of  liberty, 
Where  floats  thy  banner  on  the  air, 
Our  noble  sons  fought,  bled  and  died! 
'Mid  glory  helped  to  place  it  there ! 

Goddess,  thy  sacred  tears 

Triumphant  as  the  years, 

Give  us  the  help  for  which  we've  cried, 

Thrill  us  with  the  ecstacy 

That  makes  the  soul  feel  edified. 


26 


•(Reminiscence* 

To  POSTMASTER  JAMBS  H.  RABBITTS. 

When  de  shadows  lib  de  e'ebnin's 

Gently,  sof'ly  fallin'  'roun', 
'Cross  de  lonely  field  an'  meadows, 

Gums  de  cattle's  lowin'  soun'; 
An'  de  vespah  bells  am  ringin' 

An'  dey  blen'  in  tuneful  lay, 
It's  a  knell  dat's  sad  an'  mournful 

To  de  dying  summah  day. 

An'  yo'  weary  fum  de  labah 

Ub  de  tillin'  ub  de  soil, 
Fum  sun  up  'till  time  ub  sinkin' 

Wifout  res'  mus'  toil  an'  toil; 
How  yo'  weleum  on  de  hours, 

Blissful  seezuns  all  ub  res' 
When  a  neslin '  'neef  de  kibbahs, 

Yo'  kin  soff'en  pillahs  press. 


27 


When  de  li'l'  lights  ub  hebun 

Fum  behine  day  kibbah  peep, 
All  er  blinkin'  an'  er  twinklin' 

Ez  dey  'cross  de  hebuns  creep; 
Dah  's  a  sadden  f eelin '  takes  yo ', 

Ez  yo'  lonely  sot  an'  sigh, 
Ez  yohr  mem'ry  goze  to  'fleck 'in 

Ub  de  olen  days  gone  by. 

How  yohr  ole  home  cums  befo'  yo' 

Wif  de  nah-place  all  erf  ame, 
Ez  it  kindled  an'  enliven 'd 

Yo'  into  a  joyful  frame; 
An'  de  scene  at  night  when  gaddahd 

All  eroun'  yohr  mammy  sot, 
Ez  she  tole  yo'  little  stohries, 

Allus  chahms  de  little  tot. 

Seemz  yo'  hyeah  de  ole  fo'ks  singin', 
An'  dey  voices  ringin'  clah, 

Ez  at  night  all  knelt  togeddah 
Fo'  to  ax  de  mahstah's  kyah, 


28 


To  puzzurb  dem  fum  de  ebil 
Spirits  lurkin'  far  an'  neer; 

Keep  dey  minds  all  free  fum  feelin's 
Soopahstishun  an'  fum  feer. 

How  yo'  long  yo's  wif  de  dahkies 

Once  mo'  geddahd  in  de  field, 
When  at  night  all  in  de  moonlight, 

Danced  de  ole  Virginny  reel; 
To  de  plumpin'  ub  de  banjos 

An'  de  fiddle's  sawin'  choon, 
An'  de  songs  dat  wuz  trumphun' 

To  de  ole  plantayshun  coon. 

How  yo'  wish'd  to  'gain  libb  obah 

Dem  days  at  yo'  ole  home  spot, 
Wif  yo'  frens  dat's  cross 'd  de  ribbah, 

Wuz  again  yo'  happy  lot; 
But  dem  days  hab  gone  fohebbah, 

Nebah  mo'  will  dey  return, 
When  yo'  sot  an'  'fleck  erbout  'em, 

How  yo'  ole  heart  fo'  dem  yern. 


29 


2>c  Banjo  an'  Be  Jfiddlc 

When  de  banjo  am  er  plinkin' 
An'  de  fiddle  am  er  squeakin' 
An'  de  ditties  comes  sweet, 
An'  de  ditties  come  soft, 
Jes'  clah  de  shanty, 
An'  gimmee  mo'  room, 
Den  I'll  dance  an'  caper 
Fum  de  pantry  to  de  loft. 

Dey's  one  thing  sho' 
An'  dey  hain't  no  doubtin', 
De  banjo  an'  de  fiddle 
Gits  er  dahky  soon  to  shoutin'; 
Hit  gits  into  de  marrow, 
An'  hit  gits  into  de  bone, 
Hit  sof 'ens  up  er  heart 
Dat  am  harder  den  er  stone! 

Music  fum  de  banjo, 

Fum  de  ol'  time  fiddle, 

Cunjers  up  yo'  soul 

Lak  de  'liggun  does  de  deacon. 

Dey's  nuffin'  dat's  sweetah, 

Dat's  got  mo'  charm, 

Den  er  banjo  dat's  er  plinkin' 

An'  er  fiddle  dat's  er  squeakin'! 

30 


How  yo'  foots  does  tickle! 

How  yo'  heels  does  itch! 

When  de  ditties  am  er  chunein' 

In  de  ol'  time  pitch! 

I  go  plum  happy  an'  de  way  i'se  den 

Er  feelin'  I  could  kick  er  big  plank 

Fum  de  ol'  shack's  ceilin'! 

Dat  am  de  music 

Dat  de  ol'  fo'ks  lak, 

An'  when  dey  got  to  dancin' 

Seemed  dey  nebah  would  slack! 

Dey  capered  lak  sausage 

On  er  red  hot  griddle 

Till  de  strings  bust'ed 

Loose  on  de  banjo  an'  de  fiddle! 

De  oldes'  hain't  too  ol' 
Fo'  to  gibb  dey  foots  er  shakein' 
When  de  banjo  am  er  plinkin', 
An '  de  fiddle  am  er  squeakin ' ! 
De  saints  for  gits  erbout  dey  'liggun, 
An'  de  preechah's  sposs-choo-layshun, 
An'  dey  dance  yo'  jiggs  an'  cockrills 
Fas'  ez  lightnin'  kalker-layshun ! 


31 


I'se  seed  some  was    'flickted 
Wif  de  roomsticks  an'  de  gout, 
So  'fecketed  wif  de  muddles 
Coulden '  tell  er  bass  f  um  trout ! 
But  jes  stawt  dem  ditties, 
Roomerticks  an '  gout  would  fly ! 
De  music  was  so  flunkshus 
Sight  would  come  back  to  dey  eye! 

Po'  ol  Uncle  Rastus 
Would  drap  bof  his  crutches! 
Swing  ol'  Sistah  Peacock, 
Coat  tail  flyin'  lak  de  breshes! 
Good  ol'  Aunt  Merryor 
Would  grunt  lak  de  dickens; 
Po'  ol'  Deacon  Flypole 
Would  scramble  lak  f o '  chickens ! 

Ef  yo'  sawed  an'  yo'  fiddled 

Till  de  chickens  crowed  fo'  day, 

Why  dey  woulen'  think  er  secon' 

Fo'  to  quit  an'  go  erway; 

It  was  jes'  one  'roun'  ub  pleasure, 

Fillin'  to  yo'  heart's  content! 

Evahbody  happy, 

Evah  minute  dat  was  spent! 


32 


©ptimism. 

To  N.  H.  CAKDWELL,  COLUMBUS,  O. 

Ef  yo'  hain't  got  er  nickel 
Ner  yo'  hain't  got  er  dime, 
An'  yo'  head's  wool  geddahd, 
An'  yo'  kain't  sing  er  rhyme, 
An'  you  feel  lak  er  sheep 
Dat  am  los'  fum  it's  hovel, 
Dat  am  mixed  in  de  mire 
An'  am  stuck  in  de  puddle. 

Hab  patience,  bruddah! 

Dis  am  er  worrul  ub  triboolayshun ; 

It's  thorns  ez  well  ez  roses 

Fo'  de  white  an'  blackes'  nation. 

Ef  yo'  strike  de  trouble  mountains 
An'  yo'  take  er  little  tumble, 
Git  up  in  er  jiffy, 
Take  no  time  to  sigh  an'  grumble; 


33 


Ef  yo'  koch'd  in  de  stickers 
An'  yo'  koch'd  in  de  bramble, 
An'  yo'  meet  wid  de  debbil 
Fo'  yo'  haf  thoo  yo'  ramble. 

Hab  patience,  bruddah! 

Dis  am  er  worrul  ub  triboolayshun ; 

It's  thorns  ez  well  ez  roses 

Fo'  de  white  an'  blackes'  nation. 

Ef  yo'  hyah  de  wolf  er  holl'rin' 
Kaze  he's  got  yo'  on  de  scent! 
An'  yo'  feelin'  HI'  ticklish 
An'  yo'  courage's  mighty  scant, 
An'  de  night  cums  'roun', 
Not  er  heaben  light's  er  flicker, 
An'  de  road  keeps  er  windin' 
An'  de  gloom  gits  thicker, 


34 


Hab  patience,  bruddah! 

Dis  am  er  worrul  ub  triboolayslnni ; 

It's  thorns  ez  well  ez  roses 

Fo'  de  white  an'  blackes'  nation. 

Ef  yo'  stiff  in  de  ankle, 
Yo'  kin  hardly  make  er  wobble, 
An'  yo'  hea'ts  sick  an'  achy 
Dat  it  bahly  makes  er  throbble, 
An'  yo'  plight  gits  wussah 
Kaze  de  trouble  cums  dubble, 
An'  it  fills  yo'  wid  discouragement 
Lak  de  gasses  fills  er  bubble, 

Hab  patience,  bruddah! 

Dis  am  er  worrul  ub  triboolayshun ; 

It's  thorns  ez  well  ez  roses 

Fo '  de  white  an '  blackes '  nation. 


35 


To  MRS.  HENRY 

Dey's  nuffin'  lak  joy, 

An'  dey's  nffin'  lak  shout 
To  drive  erway  de  trouble 

An'  to  shuffle  out  de  doubt! 
To  stimmerlate  er  fellah 

An'  to  jossle  out  de  bone, 
De  pains,  de  aches  an'  stiffness 

Lak  er  fiddle's  aftah  tone. 

When  de  joy  cums  in, 

An'  de  gloom  goes  out, 
Er  fellah's  bound  to  sing, 

Bound  to  whis'le  er  to  shout. 
Ef  he  hain't  mighty  kyarful, 

Matters  not  ef  he's  er  deacon, 
He'd  step  er  little  shottisch 

Ef  he'd  hyear  er  fiddle  squeakin'. 

It  brings  out  de  smile, 

An'  it  'sperses  'way  de  frown, 
An'  lifts  up  de  heart 

Wid  de  burden  bowed  down; 


36 


An'  yo'  gloom  an'  yo'  trouble 
Roll  erway  lak  er  stone, 

An'  de  song  ub  rejoicin' 

Takes  de  places  ub  de  groan. 

It's  effect  erpon  de  soul 

Am  prezaxly  lak  de  rain 
Dat  falls  erpon  de  verdure 

An'  dat  draps  erpon  de  grain. 
It  'vigorates  an'  freshens 

An'  it  tones  de  system  up, 
An'  you  drink  to  ovahflowin' 

Wine  fum  life's  enchantin'  cup. 

It  doan  cost  nuffin', 

Jes  ez  free  ez  am  de  air; 
Ez  free  ez  am  de  Gospul, 

It 's  yo '  pribbellidge  to  share. 
Try  er  little,  bruddah, 

Try  to  git  into  de  charm; 
Ef  it  doesn't  do  yo'  good, 

It  sho'  woan'  do  yo'  any  harm. 


37 


To  MR.  J.  T.  RICKS. 

When  de  moon  streams  down 

On  er  kam  still  night, 

Let  me  sot  by  de  moss-cubbahd  stream, 

An'  plink  out  de  ditties  ub  mah  ol'  banjo, 

While  mah  soul  steals  erway  in  o'  dream. 

Jes'  git  out  dah  whah  de  solemness  come, 

Whah  de  kentry  am  still  ez  def ; 

When  de  honeysuckles  sleep  an'  dey  hide  dey- 

selves, 

An'  de  li'l  winds  bio'  dey  bref. 
Whah  de  bullfrog  hollers  neef  de  ol'  pine  tree, 
An '  de  kill-dee  an '  de  lonesome  quail  call, 
Whah  de  owl  hoots  slo'  as  de  moon  draps  lo* 
Ez  de  night  shades  slip  an'  fall. 


38 


Whah  de  willers  hang  lo', 

An'  dey  'pear  to  weep 

Ez  de  night  bird's  plaint  come  down, 

An'  de  li'l  brooks  skip  in  jubilee 

While  murmurrin'  out  dey  sound. 

Dat  am  sech  er  place  whah  I  longs  to  be, 

When  de  night  am  still  an'  kam; 

When  all  de  worl'  seems  los'  in  def 

An'  lef '  yo'  whah  yo'  am. 


39 


Sad  Hm  de  IRight* 

To  DR.  r.  W.  WHITE. 

Sad  am  de  night.   Now  de  solemn  tone 
Creeps  fum  de  erf  to  de  heaben's  throne, 
Whah    de    stars    an'    moonbeams    break    forth 

bright, 
Fo'  to  crown  de  worrul  wif  er  sof ',  sweet  light. 

Sad  am  de  night.   Now  de  lonesum  owl 
Hoots  'cross  de  main  to  er  fren'ly  fowl, 
An'  de  zephyrs  sigh,  and  de  cricket  call 
Fum  de  root  an'  branch  and  de  vine-clad  wall. 

Sad  am  de  night.  How  de  heaben's  pause, 
Ez  ef  to  ketch  firmer  hoi'  de  cause 
Ub  dis  strange  meanin'  up  whut  am  meant 
Ub  dis  rapt  silence  an'  sad  content. 


40 


Sad  am  de  night.    Fum  de  sacred  heights, 
Whah  gem  sublime  dem  gran'  strange  lights, 
I  hyah  de  angels  white  robe  throng 
Now  break  forth  saint  in  reverent  song. 

Sad  am  de  night.    Lurks  er  f eelin '  strange 
Dat  seemz  to  hab  er  boundless  range. 
It  takes  yo'  back  to  olden  days, 
When  fleet  foot  youth  lent  blissful  rays. 

Sad  am  de  night.     In  letters  bold 
On  night's  great  tablet  am  enscroll'd 
Dat  tells  erf  in  er  prophetic  way 
Ub  dat  eternal  heabenly  day. 


41 


Cbc  ipawson's  Cbanksgiving  CalL 

To  N.  H.  FAIRBANKS. 

Sistah!   Bress  Gawd!   Thot  I'd  drap  in  jes'  er 

while, 
See  ef  yo's  er  gittin'   'long  de  besses  kine  er 

style, 

Kose  it's  kine  er  early  in  de  mawnin'  fo'  to  call. 
Beddah  make  it  early,  den  to  make  it  not  at  tall. 

"Well,  sah,  look  heah  Eldah!  Lawd  er  mussy! 

Am  dis  you? 
Lan'  sakes  fo'  to  goodness!   How  yo'  cum  on? 

How  yo'  do? 
Jes'  er  fixin'  breckfess'  wid  er  little  chicken 

stew. 
No  use  tawkin',  Eldah,  yo'  mus'  sot  down  wid 

de  few." 

Look  heah,  Sistah  Tootsy !   I  hain  't  hongry,  not 

at  tall; 

I'd  be  glad  to  sot  an'  ax  de  bressin's  fo'  yo'  all. 
Keep  erway  yo'  anger,  wid  de  res'  I'll  take  er 

seat; 
Take  er  few  dem  biskitts,  little  chicken  fo'  er 

treat. 

42 


Bet  I'll  hab  no  'fusein',  I  woan'  lissen  now  to 

dat; 
Sot  down  on  dat  sofa,  res'  yo'  coat  an'  res'  yo' 

hat. 
'Membah  when  yo's  drappin'   'neef  ol'  Sistah 

Tootsy's  roof, 
Yo'  mus'  take  ub  sumfiin!  Heah  me?    Bet  I'se 

tellin'  troof! 

Look  heah  Wash 'ton  Rastus!  let  dat  chicken, 

sah!  alone. 
Eldah,  fo'  to  goodness!  dat  chile  am  de  debbil's 

own. 
Fus '  he 's  in  de  chicken,  den-  de  nex '  he 's  in  de 

jam. 
Dat's  er  pow'ful  weakness  nearly  all  de  race  ub 

Ham.  % 

Walk  out,  Eldah  Legbowl.    See  heah,  chillun, 

stop  yo'  fuss! 
Fightin'  an'  er  scramlin'  an'  er  kickin'  sech  er 

muss! 
Sot  heah,   Eldah  Legbowl,  whah  de  chicken's 

easy  reach. 
Lawd  sakes !  Eldah  Legbowl,  how  I  loves  to  heah 

yo'  preach. 


43 


Say  grace  f o '  us,  Eldah,  I  '11  sot  down  sah,  af tah 

while, 
Kaze  I  wan'  to  serve  yo'  in  de  besses'  kine  o' 

style. 
He'p  yo'se'f,  mah  bruddah,  dah  to  all  yo'  see 

in  sight. 
Fill  up,  Eldah  Legbowl,  doan'  yo'  now  be  eatin' 

light. 

Lissen,  Heabenly  Foddah,  all  mah  prayahs  yo's 

answered  sho'! 

Ebbery  bressed  word  sah,  in  Yo '  Bible  all  am  so. 
Fix  so  de  pawson  will  hab  allus  now  an'  den 
Sech  ez  am  befo'  me  hyah  dis  mawnin',  sah! 

Amen ! 
Cum  on  Sistah  Tootsy,  wid  de  chicken— I  is 

dun! 
Umph!  dey's  so  persoovyus,  'pears  dat  I  kin  eat 

er  tun. 
Whee!    Whut  am  dem  chittlins  dat  am  fryin' 

sech  er  rate? 
Am  it?    Lawd  sakes,  honey,  let  yo'  pawson  fix 

his  plate! 


44 


Eat  sum  mo'  dat  chicken,  Eldah;  dey's  mo'  in 

de  pot. 
Plenty  dah  er  stewin'  an'  er  jumpin'  sizzlin' 

hot. 
Doan'  yo'  see  dat  possum  dat's  er  dreamin'  over 

dah? 
Possum!    Whut's  dat,  sistah?     See  er  possum 

over  whah? 

Look  hyah,  dat  hain  't  possum,  am  it  1    Well  sah ! 

I  be  Jim! 
Kyarve  me  sum  his  side  meat  an'  de  fus'  an' 

secun'  lim. 
I'se  chucked  full  already,  but  I  mus'  make  room 

fo'  dat. 
Dat's  whut  makes  yo'  Pawson  look  so  pussy,  big 

an'  fat! 

See  hyah,  Sistah  Tootsy,  now  I  tell  yo '  yo '  woan 

do. 
Put  yo'   down  mah  prayer  book  ez  er  sistah 

sho'  am  true. 
Kose  I  wasn't  hongry!   Thowt  I'd  take  er  little 

bite. 
Sho'  mah  frenly  spirit.    Now  good  sistah,  hain't 

dat  right? 


45 


I  jes'  feel  ez  thankful,  sistah,  fo'  dem  few  bites 

way  I  feel; 
I  jes'  feel  ez  thankful   's  ef  I'd  eat  er  whole 

squah  meal. 
E'cuse  me,  Sistah  Tootsy,  kaze  I  raus'  be  gittin' 

'long. 
Cum   tonight   to   meetin'!    Dey's   kerleckshuta 

aftah  song. 


46 


Chicken  1Koop  an'  {possum  Cbasc 

Possum  time? 

Dahky  take  up  de  trail. 
Rabbit  skirtin'  thoo  de  thicket, 

In  de  barn  yawd  sots  de  quail. 
Cum  long  de  moon, 

Den's  de  time  to  chase  de  coon. 
Bull  frog  an'  de  turtle 

In  de  lagoon  hoi'  commune. 

So  it's  'joice  yo'se'ves,  chillun, 
Fros'  er  stickin'  to  de  vine, 

Possum  an'  de  coon  time! 
Dahky,  fall  in  line. 

Th'ow  erside  de  banjo, 

Chillun  stop  de  fiddle  whine, 
Spawkin'  an'  er  courtin', 

An'  yo'  dancin'  monkey  shine. 


47 


Take  yo'  li'l'  nippin' 
An'  yo'  tase  yo'  li'l'  gin, 

Nebah  res'  er  minute 

Till  yo'  chased  de  possum  in. 

So  it's  'joice  yo'se'ves,  chill un, 
Fros'  er  stickin'  to  de  vine, 

Possum  an'  de  coon  time! 
Dahky,  fall  in  line. 

Stir  up  now  de  embahs, 

Chillun  shet  de  oven  do', 
Pine  notts  keep  er  pilin' 

In  de  fiahplace,  lots  ub  mo '. 
Make  her  raise  er  rumpus 

Kaze  we  gwine  to  hab  er  feas'. 
Soon  we'll  hab  er  possum 

Dah  er  bakin'  in  de  grease. 

So  it's  'joice  yo'se'ves,  chillun, 
Fros'  er  stickin'  to  de  vine, 

Possum  an'  de  coon  time! 
Dahky,  fall  in  line. 


48 


Sno 'flakes  am  er  fallin' 

An '  de  breezes  got  er  moan ; 
Cumin'  now  de  echoes 

Am  de  lonely  howlin'  tone. 
Cum  on  wid  ol'  Efram, 

Chillun  let  us  go  er  sail. 
Chasin'  fo'  de  possum 

Kaze  de  dogs  dun  struck  de  trail. 

So  it's  'joice  yo'se'ves,  chillun, 
Fros'  er  stickin'  to  de  vine, 

Possum  an'  de  coon  time! 
Dahky,  fall  in  line. 

Three  fours  to  de  right! 

Now  let  er  go  kerwobble. 
Keep  up  Brer  Isaacs, 

Fo'  de  Lawd  sakes  quit  yo'  hobble. 
Ef  yo'  spec'  to  koch  er  possum, 

Er  yo'  spec'  to  tree  er  coon, 
Mus'  thro'  er  way  yo'  roomsticks, 

Git  yo'  jints  all  iled  in  chune. 


49 


So  it's  'joice  yo'se'ves,  chillun, 
Fros '  er  stickin '  to  de  vine, 

Possum  an'  de  coon  time! 
Dahky,  fall  in  line. 

Fo'  de  gracious  Mahstah! 

Chillun,  dah's  er  chicken  koop. 
Fiddlesticks  to  goodness, 

Doan'  dat  beat  er  dahky  troop? 
Er  bird  dat's  in  de  han' 

Am  sho  wurf  twenty  in  de  bush ; 
We  hain't  sho'  ub  possum, 

Fo '  de  chicken  koop !  kerpush ! 

So  it's  'joice  yo'se'ves,  chillun, 
Fros'  er  stickin'  to  de  vine, 

Possum  changed  to  chicken  time, 
Dahky,  fall  in  line. 


50 


«Xbo  Beacon  and  the  ©vvL 

To  CALVIN  W.  RKYNOLDS,  Columbus,  O. 

Whoo!  Whoo!  Whoo!  Whoo! 

Gums  fum  de  owl, 
De  mos'  com'kul 

Ub  all  de  fowl ; 
He  stahts  dat  choon 

Jes'  ez  de  night's 
Er  fallin'  fum 

De  distant  height. 

Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo ! 

Dat's  whut  he  say; 
Hees  'wake  at  night 

An'  sleep  at  day; 
All  night  erpun 

His  leefy  th'one 
He  sots  an'  makes 

Dat  debblish  tone. 

51 


Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo ! 

He  say  dat  thing, 
An'  at  de  same  time 

Bat  his  wing 
Ez  doh  hees  beckin' 

To  er  coon 
To  cum  an'  watch 


Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo ! 

Well,  sah,  by  jim ! 
When  he  am  sotin' 

On  er  lim' 
He  sots  dem  great, 

Big  eyes  er  blink 
Heed  make  de  debbul 

Shy  an'  shrink. 

Whoo!  Whoo!  Whoo!  Whoo! 

He  ax  de  frog, 
He  ax  de  howlin', 

Bawkin'  dog, 
Ez  sho'  ez  sin 

De  Lawd  cundem, 
He  wan'  to  know 

De  whole  ub  dem. 


52 


Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo ! 

He  woan'  cum  down 
An'  ax  er  coon 

Erpun  de  groun'; 
He  'spec's  er  con 

To  clime  er  lim' 
An'  lak  er  fool 

Den  tawk  to  him. 

Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo ! 

All  th'ew  de  night 
Dat  onry  cuss 

Ez  doh  fo'  spite 
He  ax  dat  quesshun— 

Keeps  dat  shout 
Until  de  moonlight 

Fluddahs  out. 

Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo ! 

Dat  onry  owl 
He  ax  de  cats, 

But  dey  jes'  howl 
An'  tarn  dey  tails  up, 

Look'd  erf  right, 
Den  shuffled  off 

In  de  moonlight. 


53 


Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo !  Whoo ! 
Kawnsahn  his  skin, 

He  needs  er  littel 
Kunjoorin'; 

I'll  use  dat  rabbit- 
Foot,  snake  bone— 

I  bet  heel  leeb 
De  fo'ks  erlone. 


54 


Uncle  ipeter's  ©ver  Confidence. 

To  RALPH  W.  TYLKR,  Colambus,  O. 

Well  I  hain't  gwine  to  worry, 

Ner  I  hain't  gwine  to  frown! 
De  Wintah's  dun  flew'd 

An'  de  Spring's  come  eroun'. 

Let's  dance  an'  frolic 

To  de  banjo  an'  de  fiddle ! 
Come  on,  Sistah  Susan, 

Won't  yo'  join  me  jes'  er  little? 

I  know  I  hain't  young, 

Lak  once  erpon  er  time, 
When  I  could  hop  er  picket  fencin', 

Thought  I'se  doin'  nuffin,  fine. 

But  de  soopleness  an'  life 

Hain't  lef  dis  ol'  frame  yet! 
So  come  on,  Sistah  Susan, 

Let's  dance  de  fo'ks  er  set. 

55 


Doan'  stan'  back  lak  dat 

An'  er  ac'in'  shy  dat  way; 
When  de  sun's  er  shinin' 

Am  de  time  to  den  make  hay! 

I  hope  dat  yo'  hain't  'barrassed; 

Yo  's  too  ol '  de  f o  'ks  all  know ; 
Come  on,  sho'  yo'  feddahs— 

Yo'  might  ketch  er  nuddah  beau. 

Yo'  hain't  done  er  thing, 

Swing  de  ol '  man  'roun '  some  mo ' ! 
Dat's  er  liT  better; 

Keep  de  middle  ub  de  no  M 

Oh!  Mah!  Sistah  Susan, 

Hain't  yo'  gittin'  mos'  too  fas'? 
Hoi'  on  jes'  er  momen'— 

Gimme  li  '1  time  to  gasp ! 

Hesh  yo'  mouf  hyar  ol'  man, 

Yo'  jes'  said  I  wasn't  doin'  er  thing! 
Doan'  yo'  dah  to  slacken 

Drap  yo'  hoi'  erpon  mah  wing! 

56 


Yo'  want  to  make  er  fool 

Out  ub  me  hyar  befo'  dis  crowd? 
Oh,  no !    Dis  whole  crowd  knows 

Dat  or  Aunt  Susan  am  too  proud! 

Look  hyar,  Sistah  Susan, 
Bof  ub  us  belongs  to  church; 

Let's  jes'  stop  er  minute — 
Thoo  de  Bible  make  er  search. 

Let's  hab  li'l  prayer 

Ef  yo'  doan'  think  yo'  will  mine, 
De  debbil's  made  us  sin, 

Step  erside  de  Christian  line. 

Church?    Why,  look  hyar,  ol'  man! 

Whut  de  Lawd  yo'  tawkin'  bout? 
We  nebbah  had  de  liggun ; 

De  debbil  nebah  was  us  out! 

Yo'  nat'ly  laks  to  holler, 
An'  I  nat'ly  laks  to  shout! 

Come  on,  ol'  man,  once  mo' 
Let  us  step  er  nuddah  bout ! 


57 


Uncle  £sau's  Courtin'* 

To  P.  W.  CHAVERS,  Columbus,  O. 

Whut's  dat  chile,  whut's  dat  yo'  ax  me? 

Tell  yo'  how  I  ustah  court? 
Well  sah,  ha!  ha!  dat  doan'  beet  me, 

Yo'  wan'  make  out  me  some  sport? 

Did  yo'  heah  dat  chile,  Mahlissy? 

Why  he's  ole  up  in  de  head. 
Hain't  dry  'hine  de  yeahs  an'  thinkin' 

About  courtin'  lak  ole  Ned. 

Mus' I  tell  him?    Mus' I  Lissy? 

Now  doan  blush  behine  de  yeah. 
Look  out  koch  hole  dah  ub  Peeno 

Fo'  he  fills  off  ub  dat  cheer. 

Well  now  chile  since  yo  hab  ax  me, 
Fo'  to  'late  sum  ub  mah  pranks, 

Dat  Ise  cuttin'  and  a  kyahvin 
When  Ise  in  de  courtin'  ranks. 


58 


Take  dat  bunk  and  go  a  sotin' 
An'  de  ole  man '11  tell  to  yo' 

Sum  de  things  when  yo  git  oldah 
Ef  yo  kyah  why  yo'  kin  do. 

Well,  de  old  man  when's  he's  soople 
In  de  jints  an'  doodin'  roun', 

Wuz  ez  good  at  spahkin'  ladies 
Ez  dey's  to  be  'roun'  er  foun'. 

Mah  ole  lady  dah  kin  tell  yo' 
Dat  Ise  jes  right  up  to  snuff 

When  I  stepp'd  out  dahkies  pinted 
Sayin'  he  am  jes  de  stuff. 

I  wuz  dis  hyar  kind  er  pussons 

Dat  wuz  high  strung  tarr'ble  proud; 

Allus  woh  de  bes'  ub  toggins 
Dat  wuz  'spensib  mighty  loud. 

But  to  make  de  story  shordah 
We'll  tawk  'bout  jes'  'Liss  an'  I. 

Son,  de  ole  lady's  a  blushin' 
An'  a  tryin'  to  ax  sort  shy. 

59 


Fus'  time  dat  I  met  Mahlissy 
'Twuz  wun  mansahpayshun  day. 

Oh,  my,  but  she  wux  den,  sonnie, 
Awful  vain  an'  flouncin'  gay. 

She's  jes  crazy  fo'  to  meet  me 
Kaze  Ise  togg'd  up  lookin'  slick. 

Out  ub  all  de  young  dudds  dah,  sah, 
I  kood  tell  dat  Ise  her  pick. 

Wif  Malissy,  ha !  ha !  sonnie, 
'Twuz  a  case  ub  lub  fus'  sight. 

Now,  'Liss,  no  use  yo  eyes  rollin', 
Fo'  yo'  know  dat  I  is  right. 

She  wuz  twis'in'  an'  a  tarnin' 

An'  a  lif 'n  up  her  trail, 
Thowin'  dem  twinklin'  eyes  up  at  me 

An'  jes  struttin'  lak  a  quail. 

Den  she'd  primp  her  mouf,  go  pullin' 
At  her  frizzus  an'  jes  grin, 

An'  her  ebry  mootx  jes'  tole  me 
Dat  wif  her  I  sho'  could  win. 


60 


Nebah  'gin  de  walls  ub  college 
Did  I  ebah  rub  mah  head, 

But  when  spahkin  ladies  bet  I 
Undahstood  all  dat  dey  said. 

Las'  I  got  on  her  to  callin', 
Wan'  to  see  me  ebry  night. 

When  I  tole  her  'bout  sum  mo  gals, 
Why  de  ole  gal  wan'  to  fight. 

"Look  hyeah,  Pedro,  quit  dat  lyin', 
An'  yo'  pussyfyin'  'suits; 

Ef  yo  doan'  yo'll  git  dis  flat  iron 
Wif  de  mos'  dizzastrus  r 'suits." 

Ha!  ha!  whut's  de  mattah,  'Lissy? 

Hain't  de  old  man  tellin'  troof  ? 
Way  yo'  bilin'  an'  a  stewin' 

Fum  de  hut  wood  raze  de  roof. 

Go  on  wif  dat  irenin',  'Lissy, 
Let  me  an'  de  boy  'lone  tawk. 

We  doan'  wan'  yo'  in  a  puttin' 
Make  ah  conbahsayshun  bawk  . 


61 


Sumtimes  when  I'd  go  to  see  her, 
Long  time  since  I  las'  had  call' 

She'd  jes'  throw  her  arms  aroun'  me 
An'  jes'  bellah,  cry  an'  ball. 

''Gimme  dat  dah  pokah,  Sukie, 
Ise  dun  stan'd  dis  long  er  miff. 

Now  ole  man,  ef  yo'  doan'  'klood  dat 
Ise  gwine  treet  yo'  mighty  ruff. 

"Oh,  shet  up  about  de  Gospul 
An'  de  ligyun  dat  Ise  got; 

Ef  I  loose  dis  I  kin  git  mo' 
Out  de  free  salbayshun  pot. 

"Yo'  am  'miff  to  make  Br'e'r  Gabriel 
Drap  his  hawn  an'  cuss  a  tune, 

Let  'lone  me,  Mahlissy  Pedro, 
A  poh  sinnin'  hep 'less  coon. 

"Kose  I  shout  when  I  git  happy, 
Feels  de  Lawd  in  eb'ry  bone, 

Dat's  no  sign  dat  I  woan'  swot  yo' 
When  yo'  all  woan'  lemrne  'lone. 


62 


'Ef  you'd  bring  back  dem  dah  spackle 
Legged  chickens  dat  yo'  stole, 

In  de  Lam's  blud  dey  might  be  chance 
Fo'  yo'  soul  to  be  washed  whole." 

Neb  mine,  yo'  he'p  eat  dem  chickens. 

All  I  got's  de  fus'  drum  stick. 
Wooden  got  dat  if  I  haden' 

Used  de  slight  han'  'formance  trick 

"Well,  yo'  hain't  gwine  git  no  chicken 
Fo'  yo'  suppah  hyeah  dis  night. 

Yo'  ole  stummick  kin  jes  tinkah 
Clah  till  cummin'  ub  daylight." 

Oh,  now  'Lissy,  Ise  jes  funnin' 
Yo'  gits  mad'  fly  up  two  quick's 

Pussun  duz  a  little  jokin' 
Yo'  fly  up  all  out  ub  fix. 

"Neb  mine  dat  dah  chicken,  Pedro 
Dis  night  yo'  hain't  gwine  to  tas'e, 

So  dey's  no  use  skussin'  fuddah, 
All  yo'  wurds  dey  am  a  waste. 

63 


Now,  Malissy,  yo'  knows,  honey, 

Indigesshun  dat  I'se  got, 
An*  de  Lawd  in  Heben  knows  it's 

Only  thing  wood  hep  dat  spot. 

"Go  to  bed  fo  Lawd  sake,  ole  man, 
Chickens  am  a  crow'n  fo'  day; 

Yo'  might  beg  fum  now  'till  dooms  day, 
Wooden'  change  whut  Ise  dun  say." 


64 


